Expert Advice

MICs and other private lenders currently account for 10% of all new residential mortgages in Ontario. This number will surely increase in the short-term as buyers look for alternative lenders not governed by OSFI

When people talk about lifelong goals, there’s no doubt that some of the dreams people have might sound a bit far-fetched. There are people who only wish themselves to live a long happy life with their family, people that fall somewhere in between, and people like Sunil Tulsiani who dream big- not only for himself but for others as well

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like everyone is talking about real estate investments these days, especially in Toronto. It’s likely due to the unrelenting volatility of the capital markets. But, let’s leave the reasons for another time and story. Today, I want to talk about the tools that we use to measure real estate investment, and why there may be a better way than "cap rates."

Here are five of ten ways investor Gord Lemon urges you to shake the bushes for a deal. Note: They're in no order of preference or effectiveness, although all require initiative and, perhaps, a little luck.

The first deal is generally the hardest when investing in real estate. In fact, concerns about winning financing can stop many from taking the leap from idealist to investor. But that doesn’t have to be the case, and much of the fear can be alleviated by the confidence a good credit score can provide.

Are your REALTORs working for you or themselves? It’s a question investors need to ask if they're being pushed into pocket listing a triplex or some other small property instead of taking it to the MLS, caution experts.

Everyone has heard at least one horror story of "the tenant from hell," so much, in fact, that dealing with renters is the biggest fear potential investors face, writes industry expert Paul Kondakos. But that threat can be easily mitigated.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are all the rage with investors looking to diversify their portfolios in a rocky market. But are they necessarily a safer bet than the good old buy-a-property-and-rent-it-out approach?